December 2025: Innovation Index, Women Entrepreneurs & MIF in Action

A snapshot of how December unfolded at MIF—through ideas, partnerships, and on-ground engagement.

By Marico Innovation Foundation December 26, 2025 | 6:30 AM
Cover image showing MIF on the field, with an overlay card reading “December 2025: Innovation Index, Women Entrepreneurs & MIF in Action – A monthly update on how MIF is shaping India’s innovation ecosystem.”

December is a natural pause point—a moment to look back at what moved the needle, while quietly setting the tone for what lies ahead. At the Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF), the month unfolded through conversations, on-ground engagement, and continued work across the innovation ecosystem—each reinforcing our belief that meaningful innovation must stay rooted in real-world challenges.

Here’s how December came together at MIF—across ideas, people, and action.

Global Innovation Index 2025: What it means for India and MIF

India’s innovation story continues to gain global momentum. In our deep dive into the Global Innovation Index 2025, we unpacked where India stands today but also what the rankings reveal about the ecosystem

A graphic illustrating India’s innovation ecosystem, featuring a human hand and a robotic hand framing a city skyline with upward-moving charts and arrows. A map of India appears in the background, symbolizing progress highlighted in the Global Innovation Index 2025.

The takeaway was clear: progress is real, but sustaining it will require deeper collaboration, stronger inputs, and long-term support for breakthrough ideas—areas where ecosystem institutions continue to matter.

Women Entrepreneurship Day 2025—Learning from Women Entrepreneurs

“When women founders win, communities change, and so do balance sheets.” – Suranjana Ghosh, Head, MIF

On Women Entrepreneurship Day, we paused to listen. Across conversations, with women founders and leaders in the MIF network, a shared thread emerged—building ventures with impact, often means navigating access, ambition, and agency all at once.

Their journeys reaffirmed why gender-intentional innovation ecosystems are not optional, but essential.


🧩 Test Your Innovation IQ

How closely have you been following innovation, entrepreneurship, and impact this month? Try answering these questions—no Googling or ChatGPT allowed.

Find the answers at the end of the blog.

  1. When is Women Entrepreneurship Day observed globally?
  2. Which country topped the Global Innovation Index 2025?
  3. Which Indian state reached the finale of the Earthshot Prize 2025?

MIF in Action: Events & Engagements

While much of the end of the year activities were reflective, they were also deeply active.

Team members from startups Zerocircle, Padcare Labs and Without by Ashaya, during mentoring sessions under Marico Innovation Foundation’s Scale-Up program. The collage shows founders and teams interacting in lab and field settings, reflecting MIF’s no-equity, bespoke mentorship approach for sustainable innovation.

InnoWin: December Edition

In December we decided to rewind and reminisce about the achievements of the Indian Innovation Icons 2025, the trailblazers whose innovations are rooted in real problems, real users, and real impact.

From transforming hard-to-recycle plastics (Without by Ashaya) to advancing assistive technology (AssisTech Foundation), early childhood education (Rocket Learning), sustainable water solutions (Indra Water), and clean energy connectivity (Astrome), these innovators combine purpose, execution, and empathy.

Their journeys reflect the values at the heart of MIF’s mission.

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📚 MIF Recommends

Book cover of “Climate Capitalism: Winning the Global Race to Zero Emissions” by Akshat Rathi

Pick a Book: “Climate Capitalism: Winning the Global Race to Zero Emissions” by Akshat Rathi. The book explores how climate action, market forces, and business strategy collide to shape the future of sustainable enterprise.

Read a Story: Recommend a story from The Better India highlighting researchers from NIT Rourkela developing clean and renewable microgrid solutions for rural India.


🧩 December Quiz Answers

1. November 19 is observed as Women Entrepreneurship Day globally to celebrate and support women-led ventures.

2. Switzerland topped the Global Innovation Index 2025, reflecting strong innovation outputs and ecosystem performance.

3. Gujarat reached the finale of the Earthshot Prize 2025 for its impactful environmental and sustainability initiatives at the state level.


🎉 Closing 2025 with purpose—and stepping into the new year with curiosity and conviction.

See you in January!

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